Machtquelle Erdöl: ein theoriegeleitetes Analyseraster

In: Machtquelle Erdöl: die Außen-, Innen- und Wirtschaftspolitik von Erdölstaaten, S. 13-36

Abstract

"This contribution aims to develop a theoretically guided framework for the analysis of rising oil prices at the beginning of the twenty-first century. After proving that - despite some fluctuations in recent years - oil prices have indeed been significantly high, the author derives hypotheses for foreign, domestic, and economic policies using different rent theory approaches. In addition to insights yielded by Mancur Olson, the paper draws heavily on two competing approaches that focus on the resource-specific effects of rents: the rentier state approach and the resource curse approach. The paper thereby demonstrates that rents are indeed a source of power since they are at the recipient's unchecked disposal. High rent income increases a regime's room to manoeuvre in terms of foreign policy. With regard to domestic policies, rent-inspired approaches differ on expected results. According to the rentier state approach, authoritarian elites use rents to stabilize their regimes and avoid democratization. The resource curse approach, however, points out that rent income increases the likelihood of violent conflict. In terms of economic policies, a widespread consensus exists that rents contribute to the inefficient allocation of financial means." (publisher's description)